System and method for dynamic multifactor authentication

ABSTRACT

A method of authenticating a user. The method comprises the step of sending an authentication request to a remote authentication device and generating a first piece of authentication information. A mobile device receives the first piece of authentication information from either an access terminal or the remote authentication device. The mobile device of the user generating a second piece of authentication information which is at least partially based on the received first piece of authentication information. The second piece of authentication information is sent to the remote authentication devices and the second piece of authentication information validated. If the second piece of authentication information is successfully validated an authentication signal is generated.

The present invention relates to a system and method of dynamicallyauthenticating a user of a communications system. Rapid growth in theareas of online commercial and banking transactions has necessitated thedevelopment of various methods of authenticating users of such systemswhile preventing identity theft.

The vast majority of current online authentication methods use what isknown as static single-factor authentication. This scheme involves auser having some form of static login identification (ID) and staticpassword. Using a browser on a local access device such as a personalcomputer, a user initiates an authentication request with a remoteauthentication device by first entering a login ID and a password on aweb page. The remote authentication device then validates the loginID/password combination and, if valid, produces some sort ofauthentication signal. Although simple to implement, staticsingle-factor authentication schemes have sever shortcomings and aremost vulnerable to two types of attacks.

The first type of attack to which static single-factor authentication isprone is known as “phishing”. In this scenario, a malevolent third,party first sets up a website which is designed to look and functionlike a website in which a user would want to enter authenticationinformation. Then, the third party lures the user to the forged website.This step is usually accomplished by sending an email to a usercontaining a link to the forged website and including a message designedto pressure the user to immediately take some form of action by login into their account. The user then enters his or her static login ID andpassword in the forged website, thereby unwittingly providing theirauthentication information to the third party.

The second type of attack to which static single-factor authenticationis prone is known as “keyboard logging”. This attack, although moredifficult to set into action, is considerably more effective than“phishing” in that it is virtually undetectable to even the mostcomputer literate user. This type of attack sees a user unwittinglydownloading a piece of “spyware” which is either bundled with anotherpiece of software which the user intends to download or is distributedwith a virus. Spyware is a piece of software that covertly gathers userinformation, such as keyboard strokes and information pertaining towebsites which a user has visited, and periodically sends thisinformation to a malevolent third party. Such information can theneasily be cross-referenced in order to extract the authenticationinformation of a user.

Two-factor authentication has recently been developed in order toovercome the weaknesses associated with static single-factorauthentication systems. The “smartcard” was the first of such systems tobe developed and is currently being used in most countries in Europe.This system relies on the use of a card comprising a microprocessorwhich contains information needed to communicate with a smartcardreader. Once the smartcard reader has validated the card itself, a userenters a Personal Identification Number (PIN) into the reader andinformation is sent to a remote authentication device. Although thissolution is more secure than static single-factor authenticationsystems, smartcards do have considerable disadvantages. Firstly,smartcards necessitate the use of smartcard readers. This all butprecludes the use of such a system with simple local access devices suchas personal computers. Also, a user must remember a PIN number for eachcard in his or her possession. A solution to this problem is to for auser to have only one PIN for multiple smartcards. This solution,however, will see the user's PIN being employed in a much wider varietyof circumstances, thereby exposing the PIN to more chances of beingfraudulently used. If a card and its associated PIN is intercepted, theycan freely be used by malevolent third parties.

Another embodiment of a two-factor authentication system employs auser's biometrics to provide a second layer of authentication. Forexample, systems have been developed which employ the use of thumb printscanner to authenticate a user. These systems, although secure, are veryexpensive to implement and are therefore not currently deployedcommercially. Also, in situations where a user is not supervised, it ispossible to replicate thumb prints in order to contravene these systems.Thus, biometric-based systems don't lend themselves well to remoteonline authentication.

A recent development in the art of user authentication has been theadvent of dynamic two-factor authentication. These systems, currentlythought to be the most secure of all economically viable options, arebased on the use of tokens which pseudo-randomly generate codes. Usersof such systems are provided with their own token that usually takes theform of an electronic device which is small enough to be attached to akey ring. The electronic device uses an algorithm to pseudo-randomlyproduce a series codes which are displayed to the user. For example, anew code could be generated and presented to the user every 60 seconds.A remote authentication device authenticates the user based on acombination of a login ID, password and the current code which appearson the token. Thus, when a user requests authentication, a login ID isentered as well as the password and the current code which appears onthe token. However, these systems are still vulnerable to phishing inthat a third party, once having captured a code via a forged website,could have up to 60 seconds to login to the real website or indeedauthorise a fraudulent transaction using the login name, the passwordand the current code appearing on the token. Other disadvantages of thismethod of dynamic two-factor authentication is the need for the user tocarry around a token for each institution with which he or shetransacts, the bulkiness of the tokens themselves and the high costsinvolved in manufacturing the tokens. Because of this disadvantage,token-based dynamic two-factor authentication systems, although wellknown, are not suitable for wide-scale use.

What is needed is an improved system for providing dynamic two-factorauthentication.

In order to solve the problems associated with prior art forms ofauthentication, the present invention provides a method ofauthenticating a user, the method comprises the steps of:

sending an authentication request to a remote authentication device;

generating a first piece of authentication information;

receiving at a mobile device, the first piece of authenticationinformation from either an access terminal or the remote authenticationdevice;

generating, within the mobile device of the user, a second piece ofauthentication information which is at least partially based on thereceived first piece of authentication information;

sending the second piece of authentication information to the remoteauthentication device;

validating the second piece of authentication information; and, if thesecond piece of authentication information is successfully validated,

generating an authentication signal.

Preferably, the first piece of authentication information contains anauthentication code.

Preferably, the first piece of authentication information containstransactional information related to a transaction which the user wishesto make.

The first piece of authentication information may be received at themobile device from the remote authentication device.

The first piece of authentication information may be received via ShortMessage Service (SMS), Multimedia Message Service (MMS) or via any otherwireless data communication means.

The first piece of authentication information may be captured from apiece of paper using optical acquiring means of the mobile device.

The first piece of authentication information may be received at themobile device from the access terminal.

The first piece of authentication information may be received usingBluetooth™ Universal Serial Bus (USB) or any other form of local wiredor wireless data communication means.

The first piece of authentication information may be captured from theaccess terminal using an audio acquiring means of the mobile device.

The first piece of authentication information may be captured from adisplay means of the access terminal using an optical acquiring means ofthe mobile device.

The authentication information may be captured from the access terminalusing a digital camera on the mobile device.

The step of generating the second piece of authentication informationmay be done using the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI),information relating to the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or anyother information specific to the mobile device of the user.

The information specific to the mobile device may include an encryptionkey.

The step of validating the second piece of authentication informationmay further comprise the steps of:

receiving information relating to the location of the mobile device; and

validating the second piece of authentication information only if theinformation relating to the location of the mobile device indicates thatthe mobile device is in a predetermined location.

The step of validating the second piece of authentication informationmay further comprise the steps of:

receiving information relating to the location of the mobile device;

receiving information relating to the location of the access terminal;

comparing the location of the mobile device with the location of theaccess terminal; and

validating the second piece of authentication information only if thelocation of the mobile device matches the location of the accessterminal.

The second piece of authentication information may comprise biometricdata.

The second piece of authentication information may comprise at least apartial finger print scan of at least one of the user's fingers.

The present invention further provides a system for authenticating auser, the system comprises:

sending means for sending an authentication request to a remoteauthentication device;

generating means for generating a first piece of authenticationinformation;

receiving means for receiving at a mobile device, the first piece ofauthentication information from either an access terminal or the remoteauthentication device;

generating means for generating, within the mobile device of the user, asecond piece of authentication information which is at least partiallybased on the received first piece of authentication information;

sending means for sending the second piece of authentication informationto the remote authentication device;

validating means for validating the second piece of authenticationinformation; and

generating means for generating an authentication signal if the secondpiece of authentication information is successfully validated by thevalidating means.

Preferably, the first piece of authentication information contains anauthentication code.

Preferably, the first piece of authentication information containstransactional information related to a transaction which the user wishesto make.

The first piece of authentication information may be captured from apiece of paper using optical acquiring means of the mobile device.

The system may be arranged such that the first piece of authenticationinformation is received at the mobile device from the remoteauthentication device.

The system may be arranged such that the first piece of authenticationinformation is received via Short Message Service (SMS), MultimediaMessage Service (MMS) or via any other wireless data communicationmeans.

The system may be arranged such that the first piece of authenticationinformation is received at the mobile device from the access terminal.

The system may be arranged such that the first piece of authenticationinformation is received using Bluetooth™, Universal Serial Bus (USB) orany other form of local wired or wireless data communication means.

The system may be arranged such that the first piece of authenticationinformation is captured from the access terminal using an audioacquiring means of the mobile device.

The system may be arranged such that the first piece of authenticationinformation is captured from a display means of the access terminalusing an optical acquiring means of the mobile device.

The system may be arranged such that the authentication information iscaptured from the access terminal using a digital camera on the mobiledevice.

The system may be arranged such that the generating means generates thesecond piece of authentication information using the InternationalMobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), information relating to the SubscriberIdentity Module (SIM) or any other information specific to the mobiledevice of the user.

The system may be arranged such that the information specific to themobile device includes an encryption key.

The validating means may further comprise:

receiving means for receiving information relating to the location ofthe mobile device, wherein the validating means only validates thesecond piece of authentication information if the information relatingto the location of the mobile device indicates that the mobile device isin a predetermined location.

The validating means may further comprise:

receiving means for receiving information relating to the location ofthe mobile device;

receiving means for receiving information relating to the location ofthe access terminal;

comparing means for comparing the location of the mobile device to thelocation of the access terminal, wherein the validating means onlyvalidates the second piece of authentication information if the locationof the access terminal matches the location of the mobile device.

The second piece of authentication information may comprise biometricdata.

The second piece of authentication information may comprise at least apartial finger print scan of at least one of the user's fingers.

The mobile device may be a hardware token which comprises:

optical input means;

processing means; and

display means.

The mobile device may further comprise:

a finger print scanner.

Thus, the present invention provides several advantages over the priorart. A first of these advantages is that the present invention utilisesthe ever increasing processing power of ubiquitous mobile devices inorder to provide multifactor dynamic authentication. The use of alreadywide spread mobile devices provides a significant decrease inimplementation and maintenance costs. A second of these advantages isthat a second authentication factor is sent to the mobile deviceautomatically (e.g. via Bluetooth™ or SMS) or semi-automatically (e.g.via a camera phone). This makes the system of the present invention mucheasier to use and therefore more marketable. Furthermore, because of thefact that the second authentication factor is entered into the mobiledevice either automatically or semi-automatically, the system cangenerate messages with longer codes and a greater amount oftransactional information, thereby providing increased security andusability.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram representing an authentication system according to afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram representing an authentication system according to asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram representing the process of carrying out step S103of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram representing the process of carrying out step S104of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram representing an authentication system according to athird embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram representing the processes involved in carrying outsteps S203, S204, and S206 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of the possible distribution of security items in anauthentication system according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of one example of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram representing a hardware token in accordance with oneexample of the present invention.

In reference to FIG. 1, the system of the present invention comprises atleast one access terminal 4. The access terminal 4 can be a networkconnected computer, a Point of Sales (POS) terminal or any othernetworked device. The system further comprises a remote authenticationdevice 3 such as a network server. Finally, the system comprises atleast one mobile device 2 such as a mobile telephone, pager or PersonalDigital Assistant (PDA). Alternatively, the mobile device could be adedicate piece of hardware.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a user 1 firstmakes an authentication request to the remote authentication device 3via the access terminal 4. The authentication request is associated witha specific transaction which the user 1 wishes to perform. Suchtransactions can include operations related to banking services,transactions of a commercial nature, logon scenarios or any othertransaction in which a user 1, for any reason, would need to beauthenticated. Alternatively, an authentication request can be sent tothe remote authentication device 3 via the mobile device 2. The remoteauthentication device 3 then generates a message which is sent eitherdirectly to the mobile device 2, using a Short Message Service (SMS) aMultimedia Message Service (MMS) or via any other wireless datacommunication means (i.e. GPRS, 3G, etc.). In either case, the messageis preferably encoded and encrypted and may include information relatingto the transaction.

If the message is displayed to the user, the user 1 may then eitherinput the message into the access terminal 4 in order for it to be sentto the remote authentication device 3 or send the message directly tothe remote authentication device 3 using the mobile device 2.Alternatively, in another example of the present invention, the messagemay not be shown to the user 1 and be sent directly to the remoteauthentication device 3.

In the example of a system where the second message is displayed to theuser 1, the user 1 must enter the second message into the accessterminal 4 in order for the second message to be communicated to theremote authentication device 3. Once received by the remoteauthentication device 3, the second message is then validated. If thesecond message is successfully validated, an authentication signal isgenerated and may be sent to the access terminal 4 indicating that theuser 1 has been authenticated by the remote authentication device 3.

In the example of a system where the second message is automaticallysent back to the remote authentication device 3, from the mobile device2, the user 1 does not need to enter the message in the access terminal4. As in the previous example, once received by the remoteauthentication device 3, the second message is then validated. If thesecond message is successfully validated, an authentication signal issent to the access terminal 4 indicating that the user 1 has beenauthenticated by the remote authentication device 3.

The second message may contain further authentication information. Suchinformation could comprise biometric information such as a picture ofthe face of user or a thumb print which could be processed on either themobile device or, alternatively, sent directly to the authenticationserver and processed and validated there. Another example of biometricdata could consist of a recording of the users voice, again, foranalysis and validation at the mobile device or at the authenticationdevice.

In reference to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the present inventionwill now be described. When a user 1 wishes to be authenticated for thepurposes of a specific transaction such as a banking or commercialtransaction, the user 1 enters his personal information into an accessterminal 4 (step S101). This information may be a user 1 name or anaccount name and a password. The access terminal 4 then sends thepersonal information of the user 1 to a remote authentication device 3via a computer network (step 102) along with information pertaining tothe specific transaction which the user 1 wishes to perform. The remoteauthentication device 3 then validates the user name or account name andpassword of the user 1.

Now, in reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, if the user 1 or account nameand password are successfully validated, the remote authenticationdevice 3 then produces a message which it encrypts and encodes in orderto ensure reliable detection. The message may be partially based on arandomly generated code, such as an alpha-numeric code as well astransactional information relating to the requested transaction (e.g.Transfer £100 from account A to account B). Adding transactionalinformation provides a transaction signature that ensures transactionintegrity against “man-in-the-middle” attacks such that attackers cannotchange the content of the transaction without being detected,dissimilarly to systems relying only on dynamic passwords (e.g. tokens)which are not associated with any form of transaction information.

Finally, the encrypted and encoded message is embedded into a coversignal so that the original signal and modified signal are perceptuallyindistinguishable. The cover signal could be a sound signal or an imagesignal. The image signal can be a single image or a sequence of imagesforming a video signal. The encrypted and encoded signal can be embeddedinto a cover image signal using any known form of steganography ordigital watermarking. Alternatively, the message could be encoded into avisual code where the code itself is the primary data object and nocover signal is used. One of several examples of this is the use of abarcode. Then, the modified signal is sent to the access terminal 4(step S103).

Now, in reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 and in the case where themodified signal is a digital image signal, the modified signal isdisplayed on the screen of the access terminal 4, so as to be in clearsight of the user 1. The user 1 then uses the camera on his or hermobile device 2 to capture the image from the access terminal 4 (stepS104). Typically, the modified image will be sent to the access terminalby way of a computer network and displayed to the user by means of a webbrowser. Alternatively, the modified image can be sent to the accessterminal by way of email.

In another example of the invention, the modified signal could be sentto the access terminal and subsequently printed out on a piece of paperor any other media which would provide a visual representation of thesignal. Alternatively, the modified signal could be sent to the user ona piece of paper in the form of, for example, a letter.

Once the modified signal is captured, the mobile device 2 mayauthenticate the source of the image. Then, using software installed onthe mobile device 2, the image is then processed in order to extract theencoded and encrypted message.

In the case where the modified signal is a digital sound signal, themodified signal is reproduced by the access terminal 4, so as to beaudible by the user 1. The user 1 then uses a microphone on his or hermobile device 2 to capture the reproduced digital sound signal (stepS104). Using software installed on the mobile device 2, the sound isthen processed in order to extract the encoded and encrypted message.

In either of the above cases, the extracted message is decoded anddecrypted. The generated code and transactional information is thendisplayed to the user 1 (step 105). If the user 1 is satisfied as to thecorrectness of the transactional information, he or she may enter theresulting code into the access terminal 4 (step S106). The code is thensent to the remote authentication device 3 in order to be compared tothe code which was originally generated in step S102. If the codematches the code which was originally generated, the user 1 issuccessfully authenticated. This can be done by, for example, sending anauthentication signal to a third party, such as a bank or an onlineretailer or alternatively, sending an authentication signal to a localclient operating on the access terminal 4.

Now, in reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a third embodiment of thepresent invention shall be described. In this embodiment, the user 1enters personal information such as a user 1 name and password into theaccess terminal 4 (step S201). The personal information is then sent tothe remote authentication device 3 via a computer network (step S202)along with details of the transaction which the user 1 intends toperform.

Once received by the remote authentication device 3, the password anduser name are validated and, if the validation process is successful,the information pertaining to the transaction is added to a randomlygenerated code and the resulting message is encrypted, encoded andinterleaved. The resulting encrypted and encoded message can then beembedded into either an audible or visual cover signal. If the encryptedand encoded message is embedded into an image signal, any known form ofsteganography or digital watermarking can be used.

Alternatively, the message could be encoded into a visual code where thecode itself is the primary data object and no cover signal is used. Oneof several examples of this is the use of a barcode.

In both of the above cases, the modified signal is then sent to theaccess terminal 4 (step S203).

Now, in reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 and in the case where themodified signal is a digital image signal, the cover signal into whichthe encoded and encrypted message is embedded can be an image containingvisual transactional information related to the transaction which hasbeen requested by the user 1 (e.g. “£1,222 to acc. 42455434”). The imagemay be encrypted in order to be securely delivered to the accessterminal. The modified signal is displayed on the screen of the accessterminal 4, so as to be in clear sight of the user 1. The user 1 thenuses the camera on his or her mobile device 2 to capture the image fromthe access terminal 4 (step S204). Using software installed on themobile device 2, the image is then processed in order to extract theencoded and encrypted message, which is displayed to the user 1. In analternative embodiment, a dedicated integrated circuit (IC) installed inthe mobile device could be used for all processing steps.

In the case where the modified signal is a digital audio signal, thecover signal into which the encoded and encrypted message is embeddedcan be an audio signal containing audible transactional information suchas a mechanised voice reading out the sentence “£1,222 to account4255434”. Then, the modified audio signal is reproduced by the accessterminal 4, so as to be audible by the user 1. The user 1 then uses themicrophone on his or her mobile device 2 to capture the reproduceddigital sound signal (step S204). Using software installed on the mobiledevice 2, the sound is then processed in order to extract the encodedand encrypted message, which is then reproduced so as to be audible tothe user 1. Alternatively, the message could be presented to the user intext form.

Then, in both of the above cases, the user 1 of the mobile device 2 isgiven the choice to either accept the transaction which is beingdescribed in the message or refuse it.

The software on the mobile device 2 decodes and decrypts the message,and, if the transaction is accepted by the user, signs the messagebefore sending it to the remote authentication device 3. Alternatively,the software on the mobile device simply digitally signs the message,without decoding and decrypting it, and then sends the signed message tothe remote authentication device 3.

If the transaction is refused, the encoded and encrypted message is sentto the remote authentication device 3 without being digitally signed.Alternatively, the encrypted message could not be sent at all and theauthentication device would have a timeout function which would cancelany authentication request which took longer than a fixed period oftime. The mobile device 2 can send the message to the remoteauthentication device 3 via any known form of mobile communication (e.g.SMS, MMS, or standard GPRS or 3G).

Other information specific to the mobile device (such as a networkoperator's ID) could also be added to the signed message. In referenceto FIG. 8, one example of the present invention would see theauthentication device 3 and the access terminal 4 being connected overthe Internet or some other data-communication network. In this example,the authentication device 3 would use information contained in aInternet Protocol packet header to determine the Internet Protocoladdress of the access terminal 4. Once this is done, the authenticationdevice verify the location of the mobile device 2. Using thisinformation, the authentication device 3 can determine the location ofthe geographic locations of both the mobile device 2 and the accessterminal 4.

If the geographic locations of the mobile device 2 and the geographiclocation of the access terminal 4 are the same, the authenticationdevice 3 will proceed with the authentication method. However, if thegeographic locations are different, the authentication device 3 will notcontinue with the authentication process and the user will not beauthenticated. In an alternative example, the authentication server willcontinue with the authentication of the user but will produce ageographic location failure notification signal which can then be usedto alert a third party to the fact that the mobile device 2 appears tobe in a different geographic location to that of the authenticationdevice. The above geographic location match can be performed at any timebefore the user if successfully authenticated.

In another, simpler, example, the geographic location of the mobiledevice 2 alone can be determined and used for validation. This exampleof the invention would be particularly suited for application wherecertain online activity is restricted in specific geographic locations(e.g. online gambling in the United States).

Again, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, once the message is received bythe authentication device 3, the signed message is decrypted, decodedand then validated. If the signed message is successfully validated bythe remote authentication device 3, the user 1 is successfullyauthenticated. This can be done by, for example, sending anauthentication signal to a third party, such as a bank or an onlineretailer or alternatively, sending an authentication signal to a localoperating on the access terminal 4.

In each embodiment of the present invention, the message which has beendecoded and decrypted by the mobile device can be sent to theauthentication device 3 any number of times over any period of time. Forexample, the present invention could be used to distribute a PIN code toa user so that the user could then send the PIN code to theauthentication device 3 any number of times such that the user could beauthenticated whenever he or she wished.

Now, in reference to FIG. 3, a possible distribution of security itemsof the authentication system according to the present invention will nowbe described. When interacting with an access terminal 4, a user 1 mayuse a personalised magnetic card or smartcard 5. The details of thesecards could be registered with the remote authentication device 3 andcould constitute, along with a password which would also be registeredat the remote authentication device 3, the first authentication factor.

Security between the remote authentication device 3 and the mobiledevice 2 may be implemented in a variety of ways. One example isasymmetric cryptography where a public cryptographic key would be storedin the remote authentication device 3 and a private key would be storedin the mobile device 2.

Furthermore, information relating to a specific Subscriber IdentityModule (SIM) in the mobile device 2 could be stored on the remoteauthentication device 3 and used as a key to encrypt the randomlygenerated message.

Finally, the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number ofthe mobile device 2 could be stored on the remote authentication device3 and used as a key to encrypt the randomly generated message. Thus,only the mobile device 2 with that specific IMEI could decrypt themessage.

Now, in reference to FIG. 9, although the mobile device of the presentcan be a mobile phone, it can also be a dedicated hardware token which,for example, comprises a camera module 10 or other optical capturingmeans, a microcontroller 8 for processing the information input viacamera module 10, memory means 9 and a display module 11 for displayinformation to the user. The mobile device may also comprise a fingerprint scanner 7 for scanning at least a part of a user's finger print.The finger print scanner can also be used as a trigger for actuating atleast a part,of the mobile device.

1.-36. (canceled)
 37. A method of authenticating a user, the method comprising the steps of: receiving at a mobile device, a first piece of authentication information from an access terminal that is in communication with the remote authentication device, wherein the first piece of authentication information comprises an encrypted message; generating, within the mobile device of the user, a second piece of authentication information which is at least partially based on the received first piece of authentication information, wherein generating comprises decrypting the encrypted message and including at least a portion of the decrypted message in the second piece of authentication information; sending the second piece of authentication information to the remote authentication device wherein the remote authentication device validates the second piece of authentication information and generates an authentication signal if the second piece of authentication information is successfully validated; wherein the first piece of authentication information is presented as an image on a display of the access terminal and captured therefrom using the mobile device, and wherein the first piece of authentication information contains transactional information related to a transaction which the user wishes to make.
 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the first piece of authentication information is generated at the remote authentication device.
 39. The method of claim 37, wherein the first piece of authentication information is based on an authentication request.
 40. The method of claim 37, wherein the first piece of authentication information is captured from the access terminal using a digital camera on the mobile device.
 41. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of generating the second piece of authentication information is done using one of International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), information relating to the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), or information specific to the mobile device of the user.
 42. The method of claim 37, wherein the second piece of authentication information comprises biometric data.
 43. A system for authenticating a user, the system comprising: a wired or wireless connection for sending an authentication request to a remote authentication device; a microcontroller at the remote authentication device for generating a first piece of authentication information based on the authentication request; a camera of a mobile device for receiving, at the mobile device, the first piece of authentication information from an access terminal that is in communication with the remote authentication device, wherein the first piece of authentication information comprises an encrypted message; a microcontroller for generating, within the mobile device of the user, a second piece of authentication information which is at least partially based on the received first piece of authentication information, wherein generating comprises decrypting the encrypted message and including at least a portion of the decrypted message in the second piece of authentication information; a wired or wireless connection for sending the second piece of authentication information to the remote authentication device; a microcontroller for validating the second piece of authentication information; and a microcontroller for generating an authentication signal if the second piece of authentication information is successfully validated, wherein the system is arranged such that the first piece of authentication information is presented as an image on a display of the access terminal and captured therefrom using the camera of the mobile device, wherein the first piece of authentication information contains transactional information related to a transaction which the user wishes to make.
 44. The system of claim 43, wherein the system is arranged such that the microcontroller generates the second piece of authentication information using one of the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), information relating to the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), or information specific to the mobile device of the user.
 45. The system of claim 43, wherein the second piece of authentication information comprises biometric data.
 46. A method for authenticating a user, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, at a mobile device of the user, a first piece of authentication information from an access terminal, wherein the first piece of authentication information contains transactional information related to a transaction which the user wishes to make and wherein the first piece of authentication information is presented as an image on a display of the access terminal and wherein said image is captured from said display using a digital camera of the mobile device; generating, within the mobile device of the user, a second piece of authentication information which is at least partially based on the received first piece of authentication information; receiving at a remote authentication device the second piece of authentication information; validating the second piece of authentication information; and, generating an authentication signal if the second piece of authentication information is successfully validated.
 47. The method of claim 46 further comprising the step of receiving at the remote authentication device an authentication request.
 48. The method of claim 47 wherein the authentication request comprises the transactional information related to the transaction that the user wishes to make.
 49. The method of claim 47 wherein the authentication request comprises personal information of the user.
 50. The method of claim 46 further comprising the step of the mobile device authenticating the source of the captured image.
 51. The method of claim 46 further comprising the step of displaying by the mobile device to the user a message contained in the first piece of authentication information.
 52. The method of claim 51 further comprising the step of the mobile device signing said message contained in the first piece of authentication information.
 53. The method of claim 52 wherein said message comprises said transactional information and the mobile device signing said message is conditional on the user accepting the transaction described in the message.
 54. The method of claim 46 further comprising the step of the mobile device signing a message contained in the first piece of authentication information.
 55. The method of claim 46 wherein said first piece of authentication information comprises an encrypted message and the method further comprises the step of the mobile device decrypting said message.
 56. The method of claim 55 wherein said encrypted message comprises said transactional information.
 57. The method of claim 55 further comprising the step of displaying by the mobile device to the user said decrypted message.
 58. The method of claim 55 further comprising the step of the mobile device signing said message.
 59. The method of claim 57 wherein said message comprises said transactional information and wherein the mobile device signs said message if the user accepts the transaction described in the message.
 60. The method of claim 54 further comprising the step of the mobile device sending said signed message to the remote authentication device.
 61. The method of claim 46 wherein generating the second piece of authentication information comprises including in the second piece of authentication information a function of at least a portion of the first piece of authentication information.
 62. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of generating the second piece of authentication information comprises using information specific to the mobile device of the user.
 63. The method of claim 62, wherein the information specific to the mobile device comprises a cryptographic key.
 64. The method of claim 46, wherein the second piece of authentication information comprises biometric data.
 65. The method of claim 46 wherein the step of validating the second piece of authentication information further comprises the steps of: receiving information relating to the location of the mobile device; and validating the second piece of authentication information only if the information relating to the location of the mobile device indicates that the mobile device is in a predetermined location.
 66. The method of claim 46 wherein the step of validating the second piece of authentication information further comprises the steps of: receiving information relating to the location of the mobile device; receiving information relating to the location of the access terminal; comparing the location of the mobile device with the location of the access terminal; and validating the second piece of authentication information only if the location of the mobile device matches the location of the access terminal.
 67. A mobile device for authenticating a user, the mobile device comprising: a digital camera; a microcontroller for processing information input via the digital camera; a display for displaying information to the user; whereby the mobile device is adapted to: receive a first piece of authentication information which contains transactional information related to a transaction which the user wishes to make; use the digital camera to capture, from the display of an access terminal, an image that is displayed on said display of said access terminal; process said image to obtain an encoded message; decode said encoded message to retrieve said transactional information related to a transaction which the user wishes to make; display said transactional information to the user; generate a second piece of authentication information which is at least partially based on the first piece of authentication information.
 68. The mobile device of claim 67 comprising a dedicated hardware token.
 69. The mobile device of claim 67 comprising a mobile phone.
 70. The mobile device of claim 67 further adapted to authenticate the source of said image.
 71. The mobile device of claim 67 wherein said encoded message is also encrypted and whereby the mobile device is further adapted to decrypt said encoded and encrypted message to retrieve said transactional information related to a transaction which the user wishes to make.
 72. The mobile device of claim 67 further adapted to generate said second piece of authentication information using information specific to the mobile device.
 73. The mobile device of claim 72 wherein the information specific to the mobile device includes an encryption key.
 74. The mobile device of claim 67 further adapted to sign said message.
 75. The mobile device of claim 67 wherein the first piece of authentication information further comprises an authentication code.
 76. The mobile device of claim 67 further adapted to display to the user a code comprised in the message.
 77. The mobile device of claim 67 further adapted to send the second piece of authentication information to a remote authentication device.
 78. The mobile device of claim 67 wherein the second piece of authentication information comprises biometric data.
 79. The mobile device of claim 78 wherein the second piece of authentication information comprises at least a partial fingerprint of at least one of the user's fingers.
 80. The mobile device of claim 67 further comprising a finger print scanner for scanning at least a part of a fingerprint of the user.
 81. A system for authenticating a user, the system comprising: the mobile device of claim 67; a remote authentication device adapted to receive said second piece of authentication information; validate the second piece of authentication information; and generate an authentication signal if the second piece of authentication information is successfully validated.
 82. The system of claim 81 wherein the remote authentication device is further adapted to generate the first piece of authentication information.
 83. The system of claim 81 wherein the remote authentication device is further adapted to receive information relating to the location of the mobile device.
 84. The system of claim 83 wherein the remote authentication device is further adapted to use said information related to the location of the mobile device when validating the second piece of authentication information.
 85. The system of claim 84 wherein the remote authentication device is further adapted to further use a predetermined location when validating the second piece of authentication information.
 86. The system of claim 85 wherein the remote authentication device is further adapted to validate the second piece of authentication information only if the information related to the location of the mobile device indicates that the mobile device is in said predetermined location.
 87. The system of claim 83 wherein the remote authentication device is further adapted to receive information relating to the location of the access terminal.
 88. The system of claim 87 wherein the remote authentication device is further adapted to use the information related to the location of the mobile device and the information related to the location of the access terminal when validating the second piece of authentication information.
 89. The system of claim 87 wherein the remote authentication device is further adapted to compare the location of the mobile device with the location of the access terminal.
 90. The system of claim 89 wherein the remote authentication device is further adapted to validate the second piece of authentication information only if the location of the mobile device matches the location of the access terminal. 